Offensive line can only get better from here

Newcomers are improving steadily.

November 02, 2012|By Nick Fierro, Of The Morning Call

PHILADELPHIA — — If there is a silver lining to the black cloud hovering over the hapless offensive line of the Philadelphia Eagles, it's that most of the newcomers are showing improvement daily and that there still is the possibility of getting some continuity going.

For now, though, the team probably will line up against the New Orleans Saints on Monday night with three starters who weren't part of the master plan, which started falling apart long before training camp began with the falling apart of left tackle Jason Peters' right Achilles tendon.

Peters was replaced by free agent Demetress Bell, who was replaced by King Dunlap, who was replaced by Bell due to injury. Dunlap is back in there now, presumably until Peters is ready to come back, which probably won't be until next season.

Center Jason Kelce, lost to a season-ending knee injury in Week 2, has been replaced by longtime practice squad player Dallas Reynolds.

Finally, in what might be the most interesting twist to this saga, rookie Dennis Kelly has most recently stepped in at right guard for Danny Watkins, who was revealed before the last game to have some sort of mysterious, chronic ankle condition. Kelly played well enough in last Sunday's 30-17 loss to Atlanta to keep coach Andy Reid from saying that Watkins would have his job back without a doubt whenever the injury he's not allowed to talk about heals.

"We'll see how he feels once he gets in there and take it from there," Reid said of Watkins. "We'll see how he does."

Of Kelly, who was a tackle exclusively with the Eagles until being the one chosen to take Watkins' practice reps, Reid said: "Actually, Kelly did a pretty good job. That was a respectable job that he did, in particular with his first start and for going against a really good player. Can he do things better? Yeah, he will. He's a rookie. He'll get better. I thought he did a nice job."

Those are relatively strong words from a coach who hasn't had much to compliment this season.

If anything, Kelly seemed more comfortable inside than he was outside during the preseason, when his footwork as a tackle appeared suspect at best.

"He certainly can play the guard position and I believe he's got enough athleticism, certainly, to play on the edge as well," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said. "Now he's got a long way to go. He's busting in here, preparing and trying to get better and all those things. Now people have got some film on him, so that's a great challenge right there for him.

"I know this: that he's got a bright future. And I know this: that he's going to end up being a heck of a football player. And then we'll see when other men get healthy and these type of things."

Left guard Evan Mathis reiterated on Thursday just how good he feels about the entire group of new starters.

"They're making strides every week," he said. "When you put it on tape and study it, anybody can see it. We aim for perfection."

Kelly was encouraged by his first start.

"Overall, I thought I played pretty well," he said. "Obviously I missed a couple blocks here and there, but I made some good blocks as well, so it can get better."

In the meantime, Watkins, whose inconsistent play may or may not have been caused by an ankle that may or may not have been bad since before he was taken in the first round of last year's NFL Draft, continues to drift further into limbo.

"We really can't talk about injuries," said Watkins, who had never missed a game in his college or professional career with an injury before. "I mean, you never want to be injured. I want to get out there as soon as I can, so it's inconvenient timing. We need some big wins coming up here, and it's just frustrating not being able to be part of the team."

With that, Watkins hustled off to a meeting as if he had two bionic legs.